556 Observations on the Hatching of Fowls Jrom Eggs 
the eggs of that whole year succeeding will be rendered prolific. 
And I,” saith Dr Harvey, 44 (that I might defend Fabricius, 
and find out something certain concerning the time and neces- 
sity of this prolific coition), did once in the spring-time keep 
two hens for three days shut up from the cock, each of which 
did, in the mean time, lay three eggs, no less prolific than any 
others : And again, another hen, which laid one egg the tenth 
day after she was shut up, and another the twentieth, and both 
fecund. So that it seems one or two coits may make the whole 
cluster of eggs, at least as many as shall be laid for a whole 
year, fruitful 
In Norfolk, where the best turkeys in all England are rear- 
ed, and in the greatest quantities, the breeders act on the fact 
stated in the above quotation. Mr Marshall says, 44 It is un- 
derstood, in general, that to rear turkeys with success, it is ne- 
cessary that a male bird should be kept on the spot, to impreg- 
nate the eggs singly ; but the good house- wives of this country 
know that a daily intercourse is unnecessary ; and that if the 
hen be sent to a neighbouring cock, previous to the season of 
exclusion, one act of impregnation is sufficient for one brood.” 
So far as the common barn-door lien is concerned, I am not 
yet prepared either to admit or deny the opinion of Willough- 
by, respecting one coition only being necessary to render the 
eggs for a season prolific, but that such is the fact with the tur- 
key, I put to the test of successful experiment this season. 
Last spring the male turkey becoming as usual very trouble- 
some, a battle ensued, when he fell, — a circumstance which has 
repeatedly happened to me, particularly if the common cock had 
any game blood in him. At the time of his death I had many 
eggs in the house ; these I saw all used. The hens continued 
to lay for some time, but they did not lay so many eggs as 
usual ; whether owing to the absence of the cock I know not. 
The first turkey was set with four eggs, laid about a week after 
the death of the cock, and eight eggs borrowed from a neigh- 
bour, who resides some miles from this manse. All the twelve 
came out, but one of the regularly trodden eggs . Some time 
afterwards, I set another turkey with nine eggs, produced near- 
* Willoughby’s Ornith. p. 13. 
